Multiple clutch for facsimile scanning machines



Jan. 23, 1951 A. c. RUSTAD MULTIPLE CLUTCH FOR FACSIMILE SCANNING MACHINES Filed 001;. 50, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l ARM w? CAwrAp INVENTOR.

A. c. RUSTAD 2,538,849

MULTIPLE CLUTCH FOR FACSIMILE SCANNING MACHINES Jan. 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1945 ARTl-Il/R Rusrw INVENTOR.

,4 7' TOP/V5) Jan. 23, 1951 A. c. RUSTAD 2,538,849

MULTIPLE CLUTCH FOR FACSIMILE SCANNING MACHINES Filed Oct. 30, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ARj'hl/E C". 51/5779 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 23, 1951 A. c. RUSTAD MULTIPLE CLUTCH FOR FACSIMILE SCANNING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 30, 1945 w m W c w. P Q .l M Wm H N A w EM Q x will i m g w L,/ w w m Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UN [TED STATES ATENT FFlCE MULTIPLE'CLUTCH FOR FACSIMILE SCANNING MACHINES.

ration of Delaware;

Application October. 30, 1945, Serial No. 625,591..

3;.Claimsl, 1

This invention relates to" facsimile scanning machines and" in particular to scanning drum control arrangements in such machines;

In certain fields of facsimile use, it is often necessary to. transmit without-delay, a series of temperatures or similar. subject matter. This usually requires a stopping of the scanning-drum, wrapping the sheet or: film, around the drum, andgthenfastening it in place on the drum by suitable holders. When a large-number of transmissions are to be successively made. since it is necessary. to remove each sheet before the next one. canbe applied; there results a considerable waste of time and may often require holding the electric transmission circuit in a state of idleness while the. change is being made- Accordingly, it is. a principal object of this invention to provide a novel drumarrangement and drive control therefor, whereby one sheet or film. can be loaded to the scanning drum, while another sheet or film. is undergoing the scan ning process.

Another object is to provide a scanning drum arrangement whereby the sheets or. film of widely different sizes can be. scanned.

A feature. of the invention relates to a pluralsection .scanningdrumhaving selectively operable drive controls whereby either section, or both sections, canbe rotatedfor scanning.

Another feature relates to. a novel clutch control arran ement for use. with a pluralesection scanning drum..

A. further feature relates to the. novelorganization, arrangement. and relative. interconnection of par-ts whichcooperate to provide an im: proved and efficient facsimilescanningmachine.

In the drawing, which. shows one. preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1. is a top-plan view,.with.part. of..the--enclosing casingremoved.

Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1.with,the en? closing casing removed to show the drumv selec tive: drive arrangement and controls.

Figure. 3- is an enlarged. View of: part. of. the clutch control of Figs. 1 and 2 to show-min one selective position.

- Fig-3A-is-a view similar. to. li'igmashowing the.

in: a. difierent selective position:

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of Fig; taken along the line 4-4 thereof...

Fig. 5. is asectional view-of Eig. 4, taken along the. line-5-5 thereof- Big. 6 is an enlarged detailed view'of the drum, control shaft and clutch mechanism; shown: in

2 Referring to' Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the facsimile machine comprises a suitable base-plate I, having end walls 2 and 3'. Attached to base-l are bearing brackets l, 5, in which the reducedends o-f'the main drum shaft 6 are mounted for rotation. Sup-ported on shaft 5 are the cylindrical scanning drum sections 7, 8. Section l is pinned at :9 to shaft 6; so as to'rotate as aunittherewith. Section 8 however, is supported onball bearing racesaround shaft 6-, so that section-8 can be stopped without stopping the rotation of shaft 6; Sections and Bare of the same'out' sidediameter a-nd' are mounted on shaft B-with a minimum ofclearancebetween the adjacent ends so as to form in effect a single continuous drum surface. s

The drum sections are arranged to be driven from motor it? through a worm H and wormwheel l2, the latter being keyed or otherwise fastened to sleeve [3 (Fig. 6) which is rotatable around shaft 6. Also keyed to sleeve I3 are clutch plates M and i5; Cooperating with plate I4" is a'shiftable clutch plate l c which is slidably keyedon' a sleeve I! which-in turn is pinnedat Hito shaft Band to the abutment collar-member I9; A coiled spring-2d is located between members I6 and l9 and normally holds the'clutch members I4 and H5 in driving engagement.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 6 isa sleeve 2| to whi'cli'- is slidably keyed the shiftabl'e clutch plate 22* for cooperationwith plate [5, and fastened tosleeve 21' is; an abutment plate-2'3. A spring'zd-normally holds-plates l5 and 22 in driving engagement;- The drum section-B has a collar extension 25 and. a flange 25 which is connected to plate 23 by a series of fiexiblebars 21, so as not to interfere with the proper lining-up of theclutch plates 15 and 22 while atthe, same time providinga" resilientbut positive drivecon?- nection between member 23 andthe drum secthan 3: Normally therefore; when motor I0 is running, and the clutches are. in the clutched position as shown in Fig. 6, both sections 1, and 8" are likewise running in. synchronism.

Each'of the shiftable clutch members" l-G, 22, is provided-with: a bifurcatedclutch lever 28; 2:9, each of which is pivotally mounted on suitable fixed' brackets attachedtoplate 30. Each memb'erifi; 295' has pins 31, 32-, each ofwhich'rides: in' theperipheral grooved face of i the corresponding'member zfi; 29 The lower'endsofthe clutch levers extend downwardly and engage corresponding arms 33, 34; fastened to 'respectiveroc'ker shafts 35; 36;..1Suitablecontactt rollers. 3612. 38

areaprosi-dedfiatzthaendofzeach: arms 33; 3:4; r Bhe;

lower ends 39 of the clutch levers are held in contact with the associated roller 31 or 38 by leaf springs 45, 4!. Also fastened to the rocker arms 35 and 35 at their forward ends are members 42, 43, which carry latch members 44, 45, at their lower ends. Each of the arms 42, 43, is also provided with a roller 46, 41, for purposes to be described.

Fig. 3 shows the position of the shafts 35 and 36, and latch members 44, 45; when both levers 28 and 29 are moved to unclutched position. Fig. 3A shows the parts when both the levers are in the clutched position. When the clutch levers are operated to the unclutched position, the latch members 44, 45, are held in that position (Fig. 3) by a bar 48 which is supported at its ends by rollers 45, 59, on roller guides 52, rigidly fastened to a casting 53, which houses a solenoid 52. Caring 53 is rigidly supported on member I. The solenoid plunger 53 has a grooved righthand end (Fig. 5) which engages the lips of members 54 and 55 through which the bar 48 extends. A spring 58 located between members 54, 55, and member 52, normally holds the plunger 53 and the bar 48 in their forward positions as shown in Fig. 5. In this position, bar 48 is vertically above the latch members 44, 45.

Consequently if both these latch members have been depress-ed, and if the solenoid 52 is deenergized, the levers 28, 25 are positively held in de-clutched position so that neither of the drum sections 1, 8 rotates. This is the position of the drum before any transmissions are made.

For the purpose of operating either of the latches 44, 45, or both of these latches, there is provided a seector button 5'! which is normally held in raised position above plate 30 (Fig. 4) by a spring 58. Button 5? has a shank 59 which carries at its lower end a semi-circular flat shoe 6!] for acting on one or both of the rollers 46, 41. Button 5'5 is not only depressible vertically, but is also rotatable around the vertical axis of shank 59 and is arranged to assume 3 different selective positions. These positions are determined by a downwardly depending pin 6| and three cooperating holes 62, 53, 64 in plate 38. Consequently button 51 cannot be depressed until the pin BI is in alignment with one of these holes.

Assuming for purposes of explanation that the machine is to be started in operation, the motor 10 is connected in circuit and the button 51 is turned so that pin 6| is in alignment with hole 62. In this position of the button, member 60 overlies both rollers 45, 4?. Consequently when the button is originally depressed in this position, both latch members 44, 45 are depressed and latch themselves underneath the magnet-controlled bar 43. In this latched condition arms 33, 34 are rotated inwardly towards each other to the position shown in Fig. 3, causing both clutch levers 28, 29 to be rotated around their respective pivots 55 against the force of the associated springs 25, 24 (Fig. 6), thus declutching shaft 6 from the motor. Consequently neither of the drum sections l, 8 rotates. In this condition the film or sheet to be scanned is loaded on to both drum sections. If it is of a width greater than either drum section it can be wrapped around both drum sections, so as to overlap the spaced ends thereof. Thus both drum sections form in effect a single continuous scanning drum.

It will be observed that motor Hi also drives through suitable gearing, a lead screw 66 which is engaged by any suitable split nut 5! which is .rigidly fastened to the scanning head 68 of any well-known construction. Head 68 carries a pair of grooved wheels 69 and Hi which ride on guide rail H. By this means, the scanning head 68 is moved in a direction parallel to the shaft 6 an elemental distance for each revolution of said shaft. The split nut 61 is adapted to be opened to free the scanning head from the lead screw by means of a cam (not shown), which lies between the arms of the split nut and which cam is adapted to be rotated manually by a knob 12 through the intermediary of suitable bevelled gears 13. When the fiim or sheet has been loaded on to both sections, it is held in place thereon by any suitable fastening means (not shown) and knob '52 is turned to free the split nut, whereupon the scanning head can be moved to any desired starting point with respect to the film to be scanned. When the various adjustments have been made in the electrical components of the machine as indicated by dials 14, I5, 16 and meters ll, l8, the mechanism is in readiness to receive the starting impulse which is applied to solenoid 52. The latter thereupon operates its plunger 53 to the left (Fig. 5) whereupon bar 48 unlatches members 44 and 45, and allows the clutch members i4 and IE to engage the corresponding clutch members 15, 22 whereby both drum sections rotate as a unit.

When it is desired to stop both drum sections, button 5! is again depressed causing both clutches to be declutched. In the event that the drum sections are used individually, it may be desirable to alow one section to continue its scanning rotation while the other section is stationary. Thus if the film or sheet to be scanned is narrow enough to be loaded on one drum section, this section can continue its scanning rotation and while it is rotating another film or sheet may be loaded on to the stationary drum section so that the latter is in readiness for scanning upon completicn of the scanning of the sheet on the first section. For this purpose the button 5'5 is rotated so as to bring the pin 55 in alignment. either with hole 63 or hole 64 depending upon which drum section is to be stationary. If pin 5| is turned to hoe 53 and the button is depressed, the shoe member 65 overlies only the roller 4'! and therefore depression of the button causes latching only of the member 45. This results in a rocking only of shaft 35 and therefore a declutching of the member I6 from the member ,l4. Therefore shaft 5 is stationary as is drum section 1. .However clutch members is and 22 remain in engagement and therefore drum section 8 continues to rotate. If the button 5'! is turned so that pin Si is aligned with hole 54 and the button depresses, it resuts in a declutching of members I5 and 22 whereupon drum section 8 stops rotating but section i continues to rotate.

While one particular arran ement has been d sclosed for controlling the selective rotation of either or both of the drum sections, it will be understood that various changes and modifi ations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention It will also be understood that the invention is useful either with a transmitting facsimile scanner or with a receiving facsimile scanner as will be apiparent to those familiar with the facsimile ar What is claimed is:

l. A power control for facsimile machine of the type having a pair of scanning drum sections and a motorfor driving said drum sections, said power control comp-rising a pair of shiftable clutches for coupling said drum sections in driv ing relation to said motor, an operating member for each of said clutches, a single manually depressible and rotatable selector member for moving either or both said clutch operating members to a normal position wherein said drum sections are declutched from the motor, and an electromagnetic control latching member for both said operating members, the rotary motion of said selector member determining which one or both of said clutch operating members are to be actuated and the depression of said selector member causing said member to be latched with said latching member.

2. A selective power control for a facsimile machine of the type having scanning drum means divided into two separate sections of the same outside diameter and with a motor for driving both drum sections, said power control comprising a pair of clutches each having a shiftable element one for each of said drum sections for coupling said sections to said motor, operating levers for each of said shiftable clutch elements, a common selector device for said operating levers and arranged to be moved to three different positions, means responsive to the operation of said device in one position for operating both said clutch levers, means responsive to the operation of said device in a second position for operating only one of said clutch levers, and means responsive to the operation of said device in authird position for operating only the other of said clutch levers, said common selector device comprising an operating button having a shank which is mounted for reciprocating motion and for rotary motion, said shank having a shoe at one end, an electromagnetic latch arranged to latch with said shoe in response to reciprocating motion of said shank, said shiftable operating levers including a pair of rockable shafts said shafts having rocker arms located adjacent said shoe on opposite sides of the central line of said shank, the reciprocating motion of said shank serving to engage said shoe with said latch and the rotary motion of said shank serving to selectively operate either one or both of said rocker arms and thereby selectively operate said clutch levers.

3. A selective power control for a facsimile machine of the type having scanning drum means divided into two separate sections of the same outside diameter and with a motor for driving both drum sections, said power control comprising a pair of clutches each having a shiftable element one for each of said drum sections for coupling said sections to said motor, operating levers for each of said shiftable clutch elements, a common selector device for said operating levers and arranged to be moved to three different positions, means responsive to the operation of said device in one position for operating both said clutch levers, means responsive to the operation of said device in a second position for operating only one of said clutch levers, means responsive to the operation of said device in a third position for operating only the other of said clutch levers, said common selector device comprising a single operating button having a shank which is mounted for rotation and reciprocation, and said operating means for said shiftable clutch levers includes a pair of rocker arms one for each clutch lever, means responsive to the reciprocating motion of said shank for moving one or both of said rocker arms to control the operation of one or both of said clutch levers, means to lock said rocker arms in operated posi-, tion after the return of said button and shank to normal, and electromagnetic means for releasing said arms from locked position in response to a received electric signal, the rotary motion of said shank determining which one or both of said rocker arms are operated by said reciprocation of said shank.

AR'I'HUR. C. RUSTAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,720 Mahnken Aug. 2, 1887 2,295,572 Finch Sept. 15, 1942 2,371,804 Cooke Mar. 20, 1945 

